Corner post



Aug. 22, w67

F. F. PETRIEKIS ETAL CORNER POST Filed Oct. 14, 1964 1N VENTORS PAUL EPH-@EKG gfmnnoaus HPnRczuK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,337,111 CORNER POST Paul F. Petriekis, Chicago, and Thaddeus H. Pisarczuk, Oak Lawn, Ill., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 403,868 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in packing construction, and more particularly to a novel corner post for inserti-on within a carton between an article 'being packed and the walls of a carton at a corner thereof.

During recent advances in the packing of relatively heavy articles in paperboard cartons, corner pads have been developed. These pads are normally formed of corrugated board and generally have an L-shaped cross section so that they will t within the corners of cartons and will receive corners of the articles being packed. Such corner pads have been found to have two primary requirements. First, they must be able to absorb the shock imparted tocorners of a carton without damage to the article packed therein. Secondly, since the packed cartons are oftentimes stacked, it is necessary that the corner pads function as corner posts so that the corner posts may support the overlying cartons independently of the article packaged within the cartons.

This invention in particular has to do with a corner pad which functions as a corner post and which is formed from corrugated board. The corner post is of an extremely simple construction so as to be economically feasible and at the same time has sufficient strength both transversely and longitudinally to avoid undue pressure by forces applied both to the corners of a carton and to the top of the carton, as by other cartons being stacked thereupon. It has been found that corner posts meeting the necessary requirements of packers may be readily formed from two separate web units of corrugated board.

It will be readily apparent that inasmuch as the corner posts are angular in outline, it is highly desirable that the corner posts be storable and shippable in a flat state. Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel blank assembly for a corner post which is normally flat and which is readily foldable to the L- shaped configuration of the corner post.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel blank assembly for a corne-r post which may be formed by the simple expedient 4of supplying two web units on a continuous basis with one of the web units being centrally located with respect to the other, and the other web unit having outer panels which may be readily folded into overlying relation with respect to the associated web unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a corner posta hinge connection which is formed from the material of the corner posts and which permits the relative swinging or folding of panels of the corner post wherein a blank assembly for the corner post may be readily formed followed by the changing of the cross section of the blank assembly from a flat state to a genenally L-shaped cross section.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a top perspective view of a carton having in the corners thereof comer posts formed in accordance with this invention, one end wall of the carton being omitted for purposes of clarity.

3.337,1 l l Patented Aug. 22, 1 967 ICC -shown in phantom lines.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of two web units which are assembled in the forming of the corner posts.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the two web units of r.FIGURE 3 showing the same folded to dene a blank assembly for forming the corner posts of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an end View of a 'partially assembled modified form of blank assembly.

FIGURE 6 is an end view similar to FIGURE 5 showing another partially assembled blank assembly.

Refering now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a carton unit which is generally referred to by the numeral 10. The carton unit 10 includes a conventional carton 11 which is illustrated as having an open top and suitable flaps 12 and 13 for closing the top. In order that an article which is relatively heavy m-ay be packed within the carton 11 and the resultant package may be suitable for shipment, the corners of the carton 11 are provided with corner posts, the corner posts being generally referred to by the numeral 14 and being formed in accordance with this invention. It is to be understood that the corner posts 14 have received therein corners of an article packed within the carton 11. It is also to be understood that the corner posts 14 extend the full height'of the carton 11 so that when the carton 11 -is closed by inwardly folding the flaps 12 and 13, the flaps will rest directly upon the corner posts 14 and any downwardly directed force applied to the top of the closed carton 11 will be directed down through the corner posts 14.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 wherein there is illustrated the manner in which a corner post 14 is formed in accordance with this invention. The corner post 14 is formed of a first web unit 15 and a second web unit 16. The web unit 15 is of -a construction commonly referred to in the trade as a double -wall corrugated sheet land the web unit 16 is generally referred t0 as a single wall corrugated board. The web unit 15 includes a Iirst plain web 17 and a first corrugated web 18, a second plain web 19, a second corrugated web 20 and a third plain web 21 all of which are bonded together in a conventional manner by means .of adhesive with the corrugations of the corrugated webs 18 and 20 extending longitudinally of the web unit 15. In a similar manner, the web unit 16 is formed of a plain web 22, a corrugated web 23 and a plain web 24.

The web unit 15 is provided with three longitudinal slits at 25, 26 and 27. The slits 25, 26 and 27 extend at least through the plain webs 17 and 19 and the corrugated web 18. The slits 25 and 27 set off outer panels 28 and 29 leaving therebetween a central portion 30. The slit 26 is preferably in the center of the central portion 30 and divides the central portion 30 into `a pair of inner panels 31 and 32.

The web unit 15 has a coating of adhesive 33 applied to the surface of the plain web 21 which is exposed. Also, the plain web 17 may have applied to the surface portions thereof Idefining the outer panels 28 and 29 a layer of non-sculf coating material 34.

In order to facilitate the folding of the web unit 16 in the ultimate forming of Ia lcorner post 14, at least the plain web 24 of the web unit 1'6 is scored to define a fold line 35. It is to be understood that fold line 35 is to be aligned with the slit 216.

The web units 15 and 16 are assembled initially in the general relationship shown in FIGURE 3 with the plain web 22 opposing the -plain web 21 and the two webs being bonded together by means of the adhesive 33. Then the outer panels 28 and 29 of the web unit 15 are folded in the general direction of the arrows in FIG- URE 3 so as to pass around the web unit 16, as is shown in FIGURE 4. The plain web 21 of the outer panels 28 and 29 are then bonded to the plain web 24 of the web unit 16 by the adhesive 33. At this time it is to be noted that the folding of the outer panels 28 and 29 is facilitated by the slits 25 and 27, but due to the fact that these slits do not extend entirely through the web unit 15, the outer panels 28 and 29 remain connected to the central portion 30 of the web unit 15. It will be apparent that in some instances the corrugated web 20 will be cut. However, in no instances will the plain web 21 be out. Therefore, the outer panels 28 and 29 will remain connected to the central portion 3f) of the web unit 15 at least by the plain web 21 and in certain instances by lthe corrugated web 20. The web fu-nits 15 and 16 having been bonded together in the manner shown in FIG- URE 4, compose a blank assembly 36 from which a corner post 14 may be readily for-med.

At this time it is pointed out that normally when the web units 15 and 16 are assembled, the web unit 15 will be dispose-d lowermost. However, the orientation of the web units 15 and 16 in FIGURES 3 and 4 have been shown generally in their inverted positions so that they may correspond to the showing of the corner posts in FIGURE 2.

`It is pointed out at this time that the central portion 30 of the web unit 15 is of a width slightly greater than the width of the yweb unit 16. Also, it is to be noted that the outer panel 28 is of a width slightly less than onehalf of the width of the web unit 16. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the outer panel 29 is of a slightly lesser width than the outer panel 28. Due to these differentials in widths, it will be readily apparent that the panels 28 and 29 may be easily folded around the web unit 16 in the manner shown in FIGURE 4. Also, it will be seen that the opposed ends of the panels 28 and 29 are in spaced relation. This permits the folding of the web assembly 36 to form the corner posts 14, as is shown in FIG- URE 2.

The typical dimensions of the web units 15 and 16 in the forming of an equal leg corner post are as follows. The inner panels l31 and 32 are 31/2 inches wide with the outer panel 28 being 3% inches wide and the outer panel 29 being 3 inches wide. The width of the web unit 16 is 6% inches so that each half thereof has a width of 3% inches.

It will be readily apparent that the blank assembly 36 may be usually stored and shipped due to its fiat state. When it is desired to utilize the blank assembly 36 as a corner post, it is merely folded in the manner shown by the arrow in FIGURE 4, with the result that the blank assembly assumes a right angular configuration, as is shown in FIGURE 2. The folding of the combined central portion 30 of the web unit 15 and the web unit 16 is easily accomplished due to the fold line 35 and the slit 26. It is to be noted that the positions of the opposed edges of the panels 28 land 29 are such that when the blank assembly 36 is folded to its right angular configuration to define the corner posts 14, the free edge of the panel 28 opposes the face of the web unit 16 and the free edge of the panel 29 opposes the face of the panel 28. In this manner, a maximum rigidity is obtained. Furthermore, there is maxim-um strength through the corner part of the corner post.

It is also to be noted at this time that all of the corrugations of the several corrugated webs extend longitudinally of the corner posts so that the corner posts not only have transverse crushing resistance, but also vertical crushing resistance. Thus, a carton, such as the carton 10 havin-g disposed therein four corner posts 14 may support other cartons stacked thereon without the load being directly transmitted to the product within the carton 11.

In FIGURE 5 there is illustrated a modified form of blank assembly which is generally referred to by the numeral 37. It is to be noted that the blank assembly 37 differs from the blank assembly 36 only in that it is formed of a web unit which differs slightly from the web unit 15, the web unit being generally referred to by the numeral 38. The web unit 38 is identical with the web unit 15 with the exception of the fact that the plain web 21 has been omitted. In the forming of the blank assembly 37, it is necessary to make certain that none of the slits 25, 26 and 27 extend through the corrugated web 20. Also, it is to be noted that the adhesive 33 is applied to the Icrests only of the corrugated web 20. The blank assembly 38 is formed in the same manner as that described above with respect to the blank assembly 36 and further description is believed to be unnecessary.

In FIGURE 6 there is illustrated still another form of blank assembly, `which is generally referred to by the numeral 39. The blank assembly 39 differs from the blank assembly 36 only in that the adhesive 33 is supplied only to the outer panels 28 and 29. It will be apparent that since the outer panels 28 and 29 remain connected to the remainder of the web unit 15, and since these outer panels are bonded to the web unit 16, there can be a saving of adhesive by omitting an adhesive bond between the central portion 30 of the web unit 15 and the web unit 16. It is also pointed out at this time that there can be a similar saving of adhesive in forming the blank assembly 37.

Although only several preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that other minor variations may be ma-de in the corner post construction within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A packing corner post comprising internested first and second web units, said first web unit being folded around said second web unit and substantially encasing said second web unit, said first web unit being longitudinally weakened to define two outer panels and two inner panels disposed parallel to said outer panels, and said inner web unit being generally centrally folded to define two intermediate panels disposed between respective ones of said inner and outer panels, one of said inner panels being in face-to-face contacting relation to one of said intermediate panels, and the other of said inner panels being in edge-to-face contacting relation to said one inner panel.

2. A packing corner post comprising internested first and second web units, said first web unit being folded around said second web unit and substantially encasing said second web unit, said first web unit being longitudinally weakened to -define two outer panels and two inner panels disposed parallel to said outer panels, and said inner web unit being generally centrally folded to define two intermediate panels disposed between respective ones of said inner and outer panels, said first web unit being of a multi-web construction, and said weakening being in the form of cuts through outer ones of said webs.

3. The corner post of claim 2 wherein each of said webs includes at least one corrugated layer, and the cor rugations of said corrugated layers extending longitudinally of said corner post.

4. An assembled blank for a corner post comprising first and second web units, said first web unit being of a multiple web construction and being formed of two plain webs with a corrugated web positioned therebetween, atleast an outer one of said plain webs and said corrugated web being longitudinally severed to define a central portion and outer panels, said second web unit being seated on said central portion and said outer panels being folded around and bonded to said second web unit, said second web unit having a generally centrally located fold line, and at least the outer one of said plain webs and said corrugated web being longitudinally severed in alignment with said fold line.

5. The blank of claim 4 wherein said second web unit is also of a multiple web construction including a corrugated web, and the corrugations of said corrugated webs extend longitudinally of said blank.

6. The blank of claim 4 wherein said first web unit also includes a second corrugated web and the severing of said first web unit is also through the other of said two plain webs with said second corrugated web serving to hingedly connect said outer panels to said central portion.

7. The blank of claim 4 wherein said first web unit also includes a second corrugated web and a third plain web, and the severing of said first web unit is also through the other of said two plain webs with said second corrugated web and a third plain web serving to hingedly connect said outer panels to said central portion.

8. An assembled blank for a corner post comprising a first web unit including a central portion and outer panels, a second web unit overlying said central portion, said first web unit being folded around said second web unit with said outer panel overlying and being secured to said second web unit, said second web unit having a centrally located longitudinal fold line, and said central portion being externally weakened in alignment with sai-d fold line, said second web unit being of a width slightly less than the width of said central panel, one of said outer 25 panels being of a width slightly less than one half the width of said second web unit, and the other of said outer panels being of a width slightly less than the width of said one outer panel.

9. A method of forming a blank assembly for a corner post comprising the steps of providing a first Web unit, longitudinally severing said first web unit partially therethrough along three parallel longitudinal lines t-o dene a divided central portion and two outer panels, providing a second web unit having a longitudinal fold line, seating the second web unit on said central portion with said fold line aligned with the line of sever in said central portion, and then folding said outer panels around said second web unit and bonding said outer panels to said second web unit in face-to-face relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,989,794 2/1935 Duval 161-50 2() 2,896,832 7/1959 Lane 229-14 3,072,313 l/ 1963 Svendsen 229-14 FOREIGN PATENTS 419,770 11/ 1964 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PACKING CORNER POST COMPRISING INTERNESTED FIRST AND SECOND WEB UNITS, SAID FIRST WEB UNIT BEING FOLDED AROUND SAID SECOND WEB UNIT AND SUBSTANTIALLY ENCASING SAID SECOND WEB UNIT, SAID FIRST WEB UNIT BEING LONGITUDINALLY WEAKENED TO DEFINE TWO OUTER PANELS AND TWO INNER PANELS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID OUTER PANELS, AND SAID INNER WEB UNIT BEING GENERALLY CENTRALLY FOLDED TO DEFINE TWO INTERMEDIATE PANELS DISPOSED BETWEEN RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID INNER AND OUTER PANELS, ONE OF SAID INNER PANELS BEING IN FACE-TO-FACE CONTACTING RELATION TO ONE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PANELS, AND THE OTHER OF SAID INNER PANELS BEING IN EDGE-TO-FACE CONTACTING RELATION TO SAID ONE INNER PANEL. 